“Becoming a beacon of environmental stewardship has truly been the sum of many small, enduring, passionate actions rooted in the corporate spiritual life of the congregation, ” explains Libby Moore, chairwoman of the Environmental Stewardship Committee of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. Beginning over a decade ago, lay leaders (supported by clergy) acted to connect environmental concerns with the life and mission of the congregation. Now, this southern Maine church is gaining a reputation as the “green church.”

Educational efforts within the church have included many adult study groups as well as the creation of original Sunday School materials for children on God’s gifts of earth, air, fire, and water. Worship has become much enriched by the emphasis of environmental stewardship: beautiful altar cloths and vestments, picturing the creatures of the coastal estuarine habitat, adorn the holiest rituals of the church’s worship life. Blessed by the bishop, St. Bartholomew’s now has a four-week Creation Cycle at the end of Pentecost.

In addition to transforming elements of its education and worship life, St. Bartholomew’s works to reduce its ecological footprint. Calculating carbon dioxide emissions and conducting an energy audit of buildings, the church sought to become “climate neutral.” St. Bartholomew’s has switched to green electricity and purchased “green tags” (funding future alternative energy development) to offset fuel oil use.

Also, it is making physical changes such as insulating pipes, converting lights to energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, and purchasing blinds for large windows (to minimize the thermal loss during Maine’s long winter nights). Church members practice simple habits of energy efficiency: closing doors, shutting windows, and turning off lights. Moore says, “As we monitor our energy savings, it will help us with our mission to export our methods and experience as an easy template to follow, encouraging parishioners and other congregations to work towards a climate neutral footprint.”

St. Bartholomew’s carries its concerns for environmental stewardship into the wider community. It has hosted two diocesan conferences: one on the ancient earth-connected traditions of Celtic Christianity and the other led by a co-founder of Earth Ministry, a modern day community “helping individuals and congregations connect Christian faith with care for the earth.” A member of the church’s Environmental Stewardship Committee helped to plan the EarthCare Teams Celebration and Support Workshop, sponsored by the Maine Council of Churches Environmental Justice Program. In May 2001, along with Maine Interfaith Power and Light (MeIPL), the church hosted a press conference on climate change at which Maine Senator Susan Collins gave the keynote speech. In December 2003, Libby Moore and other MeILP members journeyed to New York to mark the fifth anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, which was never ratified by the U.S. New York Times religion writer Francine Parnes featured St. Bartholomew’s in a July 2004 article on church environmental ministries.

The message and cumulative impact of various projects continue to grow. Reflecting on this reality, Moore says, "Our congregation is infused with hope. . . . Hope is a strong motivator and a magnet for many."

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